Miningmx reports that Sibanye-Stillwater has offered the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) a proposal to get its striking members back to work.  

But, the union must call an end to the strike, which has been marked by incidents of violence, and sign the wage deal that three rival unions agreed to late last year.  Amcu has been on strike at the producer’s gold mines since mid-November.  The “return to work proposal,” contained in a message to staff dated 1 March, offers a number of inducements to get Amcu members to return to work.  The proposal includes a one-off “peace and stability” payment of R4,500 to the striking workers and a R5,000 salary advance to be repaid by the workers who went on strike over a 12-month period.  Sibanye also signaled that, to bring the dispute to an end, it was willing to waive its rights to recover the costs of providing the striking employees with accommodation and food during the strike, as well as payments made on their behalf, including contributions to the members’ respective medical aid and retirement funds.  Sibanye will also offer a job to a relative of anyone killed in violence related to the strike and will rehire workers sacked during the strike, though they must still face formal disciplinary proceedings.  “Nothing will prevent the Company from proceeding with disciplinary action against other members alleged to have committed strike related misconduct,” the offer indicates.

• Read the full original of Ed Stoddard’s report on the above at Miningmx

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page